England to face Spain and Croatia in Nations League
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The UEFA Nations League draw revealed that England will face formidable opponents in Spain, Croatia, and the Czech Republic during the 2026-27 group stage. Meanwhile, Wales has been grouped with reigning champions Portugal.
Both England and Wales were promoted to League A following their performances in the 2024-2025 competition. Besides their well-known competitors, England will also play against Denmark and Norway to vie for a position in the knockout stages.
Scotland’s team, participating in their first World Cup since 1998, will compete against Switzerland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia in their League B group. Northern Ireland is set to face Hungary, Ukraine, and Georgia, while the Republic of Ireland will take on Israel, Austria, and Kosovo.
The upcoming fifth edition of the UEFA Nations League runs from September 2026 to June 2027. The event includes four groups of four teams in Leagues A, B, and C, with League D comprising two groups of three teams.
Key Highlights of the Nations League Draw
Key Highlights
- England is set to challenge Spain, Croatia, and the Czech Republic.
- Wales faces off against champions Portugal.
- Scotland competes in League B after a long absence from the World Cup.
- Northern and Republic of Ireland are in tough groups in League B.
In a noteworthy development, Thomas Tuchel has extended his contract as England‘s manager until Euro 2028. He expressed that while his focus remains on the upcoming World Cup, the draw presents tough challenges, citing Spain and Croatia as key opponents.
The structure of the Nations League involves each team playing home and away matches against all other teams in their group from September to November 2026. The top two teams from each group advance to the quarter-finals in March 2027, with the finals scheduled for June to crown the overall winner.
